Declan Donnelly has said finding love was tough because potential girlfriends already knew too much about him before they even met.

The TV star said that being one half of Geordie presenting duo Ant and Dec held him back when looking for love because it meant he couldn't go on a proper blind date.

Dec explained about being single: "It was one of those things. I thought, God! It is really hard to meet girls. People would always try and set me up, which was awkward. You can't set me up on a blind date because she will automatically know more about me."

The Britain's Got Talent presenter has now got together with his manager of more than 10 years, Ali Astall, who has moved in with him.

He said: "I think we've always been attracted to each other but it has always been that thing of we work together. This is the first time we've given it a try. We always hung out.

"When she was single and I was single we'd go out for dinner on Valentine's night together because we didn't have partners. This year we went out as a couple."

Ant McPartlin, who has been married to Lisa Armstrong for eight years, added: "Now he's got to pay out for the whole meal."

Asked if he'd be getting married soon, Dec said: "I don't know. We'll see. My mam doesn't give me any hassle. I'd like to get married one day."

Dec previously had a brief flirtation with former Pussycat Doll and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Ashley Roberts who presented with them on the last series of Saturday Night Takeaway.

He revealed: "There was a spark in as much as we got along and we had a laugh about it. I didn't try anything - it would have been awkward."